Sainsbury’s is poised to become the first supermarket to house NHS surgeries in its stores, according to reports.
The supermarket is said to be keen to install GP surgeries in its stores that already contain pharmacies.
Meetings are scheduled for next week between Sainsbury’s and Department of Health representatives, reports the Times.
A government White Paper last month floated the idea of making primary care more accessible to the public.
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The government wants Primary Healthcare Trusts to commission extra surgeries through open tendering and is changing the rules so that patients can register at practices near their work or in other convenient locations, rather than near their homes.
Sainsbury’s and Boots are already assessing suitable locations for trial surgeries and it is thought that the first practices could open by the end of the year, the paper reports.
